HOUSTON, Texas – Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell was one of 21 college football coaches named to the American Heart Association's 2021 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, a list of coaches in consideration for the top honor. The award is given annually to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity, and a winning approach to coaching and life - both on and off the field.
 
Last year, Chadwell was the Paul "Bear" Bryant "Group of Five" Conference Coach of the Year and a semifinalist for the 2020 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, after leading the Chanticleers to a historical 11-1 season, a Sun Belt Championship, and the program's first-ever bowl game.
 
This season, the Chanticleers are 6-1 overall under Chadwell and have been ranked in the top-25 in both the Associated Press (AP) and USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches top 25 polls all season long.
 
Bowl eligible for the second consecutive year, the Chants lead the nation in fourth-down conversion percentage (100 percent), completion percentage (75.5 percent), team passing efficiency (217.57), fewest turnovers lost (3), and interceptions thrown (1). They also rank second nationally in third-down conversion percentage (57.8 percent), third in scoring offense (45.7 ppg), seventh in total offense (524.4 ypg), and 11th in rushing offense (233.7 ypg).
 
Defensively, the Chanticleers rank 13th nationally in both scoring defense (17.1 ppg) and first downs allowed (113), as well as 14th in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (30.8), 17th in passing yards allowed (179.4 ypg), and 24th in total defense (322.7 ypg).
 
The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, and the Bryant family present this award annually to celebrate Bear Bryant's legacy and raise awareness and critical funds for research to eradicate cardiovascular disease and stroke, leading causes of death globally. The football coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983.
 
The Coach of the Year will be announced live from Houston's Post Oak Hotel on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, during the awards ceremony with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA College football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family. The award is the only college coaching honor selected after all postseason bowl games and the National Championship have been played.
 
The 2021 Watch List includes (in alphabetical order):
 
Atlantic Coast Conference

• Dave Clawson – Wake Forest University
• Dave Doeren – North Carolina State University
• Pat Narduzzi – University of Pittsburgh

 
Big 10 Conference

• Ryan Day – Ohio State University
• James Franklin – Pennsylvania State University
• Jim Harbaugh – University of Michigan
• Mel Tucker – Michigan State University

 
Big XII Conference

• Dave Aranda – Baylor University
• Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State University
• Lincoln Riley – University of Oklahoma

 
"Group of Five" Conferences

• Jamey Chadwell – Coastal Carolina University
• Sonny Dykes – Southern Methodist University
• Luke Fickell – University of Cincinnati
• Dana Holgorsen –University of Houston
• Jeff Traylor – University of Texas at San Antonio

 
Pac 12 Conference

• Mario Cristobal – University of Oregon
• Jonathan Smith – Oregon State University

 
Southeastern Conference

• Jimbo Fisher – Texas A&M University
• Nick Saban – University of Alabama
• Kirby Smart – University of Georgia
• Mark Stoops – University of Kentucky

 
In addition to the Coach of the Year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards program will also present Conference Coaches of the Year Awards from each of the "Power Five" collegiate athletic conferences (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 10, Big XII, Pac 12, and Southeastern Conference) and one from the "Group of Five" conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, and Sun Belt Conference). The 2021 award cycle marks the second year that the individual conference coach recognitions have been granted.
 
Fans can follow Paul "Bear" Bryant Award finalists, track progress of the awards, and be among the first to know who is named Coach of the Year at facebook.com/bryantawards or twitter.com/bryantawards. To attend the exclusive, VIP experience for the Bryant Awards, contact 832-918-4009 or visit bryantawards.org.

For complete coverage of CCU football, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalFootball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUsports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.